Tube-welding machine



w. R. EDWARDS.

TUBE WELDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, I918. RENEWED MAR. 5, I920.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

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! I! MIMI hf afiarvzey 6 l W WMM W. R. EDWARDS. TUBE WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APILQU, I9I8- RENEWED MAR. 5, I920- 1,356,054, Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

8 SHEE] S'fSHEET 2.

fnremar aiforhey w. R. EDwAns.

TUBE WELDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEUAPR. 30. 1918. RENEW! MAR. 5, :920.

1,356,054 Patented 001;. 19, 1920.

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[WELDL 19, 1920. R SHEETS---SHET 4.

fayenior W. R. EDWARDS.

TUBE WELDING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, I918- RENEWED MAR- 51 1920.

1,356,054, Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

a SHEETS-SHEET 5. 5

fin/027202 by 19 17151? W W. R. EDWARDS.

. TUBE WELDING MACHINE. APPLICATION men 'APR.30, 191a. RENEWED MAR. 5. I920- 1,356,054; Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6. 6 a.

W. R. EDWARDS.

TUBE WELDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1918. RENEWED MAR. 5. I920.

Patented Oct. 19,1920. 8 SHEETS-SHEET I. '7 V '1 'm ml" I In 15 W. R. EDWARDS. TUBE WELDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 191B. RENEWED MAR. 5, 1920.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8- UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. nnwnn'ns, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CL L Wm ING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OHIO.

TUBE-WELDING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. FlnwAnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of. Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relatmg to Tube-Welding Machines, of whlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for weldingtubes, particularly apparatus of the autogenous type.

One object of the invention 1s to provide a construction of relatively simple form adapted to Weld the seam edges of a tube or tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus adapted to weld tubes of different shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding and supporting the tube or tubes in operative relationship to the flame of the torch, whereby the edges of the tube or tubes are properly welded without burning of the metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically welding a plurality of tubes one after another.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustration I have in the accompanying drawings shown and herein described one form of apparatus 'embodyingrmy invention.

igure 1 is a side elevat on of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear end' view looking toward.

the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevat on, enlar ed.

shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. is a .sectlon on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ig. 5 is a top plan view of the parts 7 Fig. 10 is a fra entary view of the machine between an looking in the direction of the arrows 10, 10 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a section on' the line 11-11 of F ig. 5.

ig. let is a section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the tube propeller device.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of the propelling device looking in the direction of the arrows 16, 16.

'Fi 17 is a top plan view of a tube which may e welded on an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the tube.

Fig. 19 is an end view of the tube-looking in the direction of the arrows m, m.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 31-3 of Fig. 18, before welding of the seam edges has taken place.

, Fig. 21 is a section on the line y-y of Fig. 18 after the welding operatlon has taken place.

in the direction of the arrows 22, 22.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a support or frame preferably comprising a bed 1 having legs l and a plate 1. At its opposite ends, the bed 1 may be provided with side walls'l which are preferably formed integral with the bed 1 and plate 1. The bed l may be secured to the legs 1 in any well known manner.

2 indicates a pair of brackets, each secured in any preferred way to the adjacent side wall 1' The brackets 2 are formed with bearings for shafts 3, 3. Each of the shafts3, 3, carries a wheel 4 which supports and guides a propelling device 5. The

propelling or feed device preferably comprises an endless chain extending around Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

lication filed April so, 1918, Serial No. 231,705. renewed March 5, 1920. Serial No. 368,594.

the wheels 4 and a plurality of projecting members 5" uniformly spaced along the chain 5. Each member 5 may be provided with a hooked end or ends to engage the rear end of a tube A, which is to be welded,-

to propel or feed it relative the flame of the torch, indicated aS an entlrety at 6.

The torch 6 may be of any preferred type,

that shown being adapted to burn acetylene and oxygen gases, supplied through relationship, whereby they may be removedand discharged through a tip 6, which projects the flame onto the tube as will be later set forth.

7 indicates a holder or supply chamber adapted to receive a plurality of tubes A. The holder 7 is preferablyshapedto hold a plurality of tubes in superposed or stacked from the bottom of the stack one by one and fed to or below the torch 6, and additional tubes placed on top of the stack to keep the stack substantially full. The holder may comprise a bottom or supportin member 7 on which the stack of tubes rests, and pairs of spaced u ri hts 7 between which the tubes are place he bottom 7 a is preferably of the same width as each tube A and the uprights 7 b are bolted to opposite sides of the bottom, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9. The bottom 7 is disposed horizontally and in the plane of the upper run of the propelling chain 5, it being cut away, as indicated at 7, sufficiently to receive the chain but cause the engaging members 5 thereof to project above the surface of the bottom and thus move into engagement with the rear end of the lowermost tube (see Fig. 1). The holder 7 may be secured to the support 1 in any desired manner, but preferably by bolts 7 extending through openings in the plate 1. Certain of the bolts 7 also may serve to secure the uprights 7 to the bottom 7, as already described. Between the holder 7 and plate 1 I preferably provide a spacing member 8, to support the holder in alinement with the torch 6 and direction of movement of the chain 5. 9 indicates a plate secured to the front edges of the front pair of uprights 7 and forming the front wall of the holder. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the lower end of the plate 9 is elevated above the bottom 7 a distance slightly greater than thediameter, in a vertical direction, of each tube A, and forms with the bottom a delivery opening for the holder, to permit but one tube Athe lowermost tube-at a time to ,be moved or fed forwardly by each engaging member 5.

10 indicates pairs of upper and lower rollers arranged in front and rear of the torch 6 and cooperating to guide each tube relative thereto. The rollers may be loosely mounted on their respective shafts, as hereinafter described. The upper roller 10 of each pair preferably has a flat circumferential surface and its shaft 10 is fixed to and supported in any well known manner by the plate 1, or an integral part thereof. The lower roller 11 of each pair of rollers 20 is provided with flanges 11 and inclined walls 11 conforming substantially to the shape of the tube A to engage and roperly guide it, and is also grooved, as s own at 11, to receive the chain 5 as it feeds the tube forward. The shaft 11 for each roller 11 is mounted at its inner end to the outer end of a swingable arm 12, whereby the roller may be swung vertically to press the tube against the upper roller 10. The arm 12 is connected to one end of a shaft 12, which extends through a bearing 1 and the plate 1. At its opposite end the shaft 12 carries an arm 13 from the free end of which is suspended a weight 14. The weight tends to rotate the shaft 12 and it in turn tends to swing the arm 12 upwardly, whereby the roller 11 will be pressed against each tube A. The hub 13 of the arm 13 is preferably adjustably connected to the shaft 12 by a set screw 13. The arm 12 and hub 13 preferably engage the opposite ends of the bearing 1, to prevent endwise movement of the shaft 12. The hub 13 may be held in place on the shaft 12* by a nut 13. i

. 15 indicates a pair of movable rolls adapted to engage the opposite sides of each tube. The functions of the rolls 15 are to guide the tubes relative to the torch 6, and to impart pressure to the o posite sides of the tube walls, to press t eir seam edges together, whereby a proper weld thereof may be effected. The roller is also preferably shaped to engage the upper portions of the tubewalls to insure contact of the seam edges immediately after thetorch flame has 'heated the metal of the tube. To more readily carry out these latter functions, the rolls 15 are arranged upon opposlte sides of and preferably slightly rearwardly of the torch tip 6", and yieldingly pressed toward each other, as hereinafter described. Each roll 15 is rovided with a flat wall 15 which engages t e side of the tube and an inclined.-

wall or flange 15", which is shaped to engage the upper portion of the tube wall at one side of the seam thereof, These walls are preferably so arranged and correlated that they will engage the adjacent tube side wall and adjacent upper portion of the tube throughout its length from end to end sothat uniform pressure and contact will occur alon the seam from end to end thereof. Each r01 15 is loosely mounted on" a stub shaft 16, preferably connected to a disk 16,

which in turn is eccentrically connected to and rotated by a shaft 16"; The shafts 16" are mounted in bearings 17 formed in a bracket 17, which is connected with the plate 1. Each stub shaft 16, disk 16' and shaft 16" is preferably formed integrally, the shaft 16 being arranged eccentric to the shaft 16", so that upon the rotation of the latter, the stub shaft 16 will be swung toward eachother, whereby they cause pressure upon the walls of the tube A. The devices 19 are preferably connected to the cranks 18 and operate through them to rotate the shafts 16 Of these devices, 19, 19, indicates a pair of rods pivotally and detachably connected together at their inner ends. Theouter ends of the rods 19, 19, extend through openings formed in the outer enlarged ends of the cranks'18, the rod 19 being preferably adjustably connected with the adjacent crank by means of screw,

threads and the other rod 19 having sliding and pivotal connection with the other crank 18. At its outer free end, the rod 19 is provided with screw threads to receive a nut 19, which serves as an abutment.

20, indicates a spring preferably interposed between the abutment 19 and the adjacent crank 18, The spring 20 may be coiled around the rod and in order that it ma be of proper size and tension, the rod 19 is made somewhat longer than the rod 19. As the spring is arranged between one crank 18 and the rod 19 or the abutment 19 thereon, it tends to move both cranks 18 toward each other, and they in turn, operating through the shafts 16 and eccentrics 16, as already described, tend to press the rolls 15 against tubes A as the latter are fed endwise through the guide rollers 10, 11, relative to the torch 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the outer ends of the cranks 18 are disposed equal distances from the longitudinal axis of the tube A, so that they may move the same distance underv the influence of the spring and apply equal pressures upon the opposite sides of the tube. By rotating the nut 19",v the length of the rod 19 and the tension of the spring 20 can be position the cranks 18 and cause the rol s 15 to engage the tube walls with the desired degree of pressure.

Erom the foregoing description it will be seen that the rolls 15 press against the A opposite sides of the tube for the purpose of forcing together or causing proper co tact between the seam edges followin the heating of the metal by the torch ame; it will also be seen that the lowef rollers 11 acting upwardly against the tube press the u per portions thereof against the flanges o the rolls 15 and they in turn co-act with each other and with the body portions of the rolls 15 to press the seam edges together; furthermore, as the surfaces of the rollers 10 are flat and engage the uppermost portion of the tube, or rather the opposite edges of the seam, (because I prefer to weld in my apparatus butt-seamed tubes, the seams of which are disposed in the vertical lane of the longitudinal axis of the tube? they also tend to press the edges of the seam together, in resisting the upward pressure of the rollers 11 due to the weights 14. It will therefore be seen that the guide rollers 10*, 11, and rolls 15 co-act to cause the proper contact between the edges of the scam in order that an effective weld may be L flame and is still highly heated as it passes the rear roller 10%. a

I preferably adjustably connect the bracket 17 to the plate 1 whereby the rolls 15 may be raised and lowered to adapt them for engagement with tubes of varying shapes and sizes. For this urpose I provide the plate 1 with a gui e wall 17' and form in the inner end of the bracket 17' a groove 17 which receives the guide wall 17. 17 indicates an elongated slot formed in the plate 1 and wall 17. 17 indicates a bolt which extends through the slot 17 and into a screw threaded opening 17 formed in the bracket 17. The bolt 17 serves to clamp the bracket 17 i to the plate 1, but by loosening it, the bracket may be raised or lowered as desired. By this construction, it will'be seen that'both rolls 15 may be adjusted simultaneously.

he rolls 15 are preferably so positioned that their flanges will co-act with the rollers 10 to maintain the tube in the plane of their peripheries. By this arrangement the rolls 15 operate to guide and maintain the front end of each tube before it reaches the rear roller 10? and the rear end of each tube after it passes the front roller 10* in the plane of the peripheries of these rollers. It will therefore be seen that the front and rear ends of the tubes as well as their intermediate portions will be maintained at the proper distance from the torch tip 6. 21 indicates a member which receives the tubes A from the chain 5 after they have been welded. The receiving member 21 may comprise'an inclined plate secured, preferably by angle plates 21, to some part of the frame 1. I 22 indicates a member arranged in the path of movement of the tubes A and adapt;

ed to discharge them from the-chain 5 onto the receiver 21. The discharge member preferably comprises a plate .bolted to some part of the frame 1, such as the plate 1, and having a laterally curved outer end 22. The curved end 22' is engaged by the front end of each tube and causes the latter to fall or roll off of the chain 5 onto the receiver 21. The curved end 22'. is arranged to be engaged by each tube just as or immediately after its rear end emerges from between the rear guide rollers 10.

The chain 5 may be operated by any suitable means, that shown preferably comprising a shaft 23, mounted in bearings ried by the frame 1, a pulley 23 fixed to the shaft 23, a worm 23 fixed to the shaft 23,

and a worm gear fixed to the shaft 3 and meshing with the worm 23". As shown the rollers 10 and 11 and the rolls 15 are held in position on their respective shafts by nuts 24 which permit them to be removed at Wlll.

My apparatus is adapted to weld tubes of various shapes in cross section and sizes, as well as tubes which taper from end to end. In this connection it will be noted that the shafts 10 for the rollers 10 are fixed, so as to maintain, support and guide the upper surface of the tube-that is, that portlon of the tube. in which the seam extends1n a horizontal plane which is fixed; whereas, the shafts 11 are independently movable about the axes of the shafts 12" and thus permit the rollers 11 to accommodate themselves to cylindrical tubes or tapered tubes, such as I have shown for illustrative purposes in the drawings, see Figs. 17 to 22, inclusive. Although the tube A, which is shown in the drawings, is but slightly tapered from end to end, its upper and lower walls have a relatively large taper from end to end. Notwithstanding the difference in height between the front and rear ends of the tube, the rollers 11 readilyaccommodate themselves to and always maintain the tube against the rollers 10 under the action of the weights 14; furthermore, when the rear end of a tube, such as I have shown, passes each roller 11, the latter will immediately swing upwardly into engagement with the front end of the succee ing tube and thus insure the proper positionmg'of the tube again-st or in engagement with the rollers 10 and the flanges of the rolls 15 and its feeding past the torch 6. I am enabled therefore to feed the tubes one behind the ii-anther with their adjoining ends relatively se together. I By removing the guiding and supporting ments 10, 11 and 15, and substituting t er elements therefor, the machine can readily be ada ted to tubes of many difi'erentsizes and s apes.

The torch 6 is preferably supported by car- .the torch flame. Of these supporting means 25, 25 indicate a base extending laterally from the u per edge of the plate 1 and preferably ormedintegral therewith. 25

indicates a guide ribprovided on the base 25 and extending endwise or longitudinally of the bed 1 and parallel to the direction of feed of the tubes A. 25 indicatesa slide havin a recess 25" adapted to receive and slidab y engage the rib 25. The slide 25 is adapted to move or slide on the base 25* longitudinally of the bed 1, being guided bly the rib 25. 25 indicates an elongated s ot formed in the horizontal slide 25 and 25 indicates a bolt extending through the slot 25 andengaging a screw threaded opening in the base 25, whereby the slide 25 may be clamped in any adjusted position to the base 25. 26 indicates a standard or upright member mountedon and preferably formed integral with the slide 25 At 26, the standard 26 is provided with a plate the opposite side walls of which serve as guide walls. 27 indicates an intermediate supportting element having-a le 27. On its inner face, the le 27 is provided with a groove 27 which slidably receives the plate 26" and is vertically guided by side walls thereof. 27" indicates an elongated opening formed in the leg 27" and 27 indicates a bolt or cap screw extending through the slot and into a screw threaded opening 26 formed in the standard 26. The head of the screw 27 may be relatively large, whereby it may form an outer guide wall coiiperating with the face of the standard 26 and plate 26' to slidably support the leg 27" of the intermediate supporting element 27. 28 indicates a shaft or rod rotatably mounted in and extending the walls 27, plate 26' and hea of the cap screw 27. 28 indicates a device, such as a wheel, by which the rod 28 may be operated.

While the screw 27 may be operated to rigidl clamp the leg 27 a to the standard 26, I pre or to so adjust it that the supporting element 27 readily may be raised and lowered by turning the hand wheel 28.

29 indicates an opening formed in or extending horizontally through the supporting element 27 and adapted to slidably receive a rod 30. s 30, 30, indicates apair of members adapted to clamp between them the body member of the torch 6. The inner clamping member 30 is fixedly connected to the outer end of the slide rod 30 in any well known manner, while the outer clamping member 30 may be connected to the inner member by a plurality of bolts 31, the ad- 'ustment of which serves to clamp the torch etween the members 30. By proper adjustment of the bolts 31, the torch 6 can be made sufliciently rigid for all purposes and at the same time permit the operative to rotate it to adjust the torch tip 6 if desired. The devices for moving or adjusting the slide rod 30 in the openmg .29, whereby the torch may be adjusted transversely of a tube A, preferably consist of an arm 32 rigidly connected at one end in any well known way, to the rod 30 and carrying or engaging at its opposite end a shaft 32. At its inner or free end the shaft 32 has a screw thread connection with an opening 33, whereby the shaft may be adjusted in an endwise direction; 32 indicates a pair of collars fixedto the shaft 32 and engaging the opposite sides of the arm 32, so as to move the latter toward and from the supporting element 2'1 whenever the shaft 32" is rotated. 32 indicates a suitable device, such as a hand wheel, secured to the outer end of the shaft 32 for operating it. As the arm 32 is rigidly connected to the rod 30, it will be seen that the adjustment of the shaft 32 will move the rod 30 endwise and it in turn will adjust the torch to any desired extent.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide in front and rear of the torch 6 a pair of fixed rollers 10 which serve as a fixed guide or abutment against which the upper wall or walls of each tube A are maintained during its endwise movement. Furthermore, the elements 11, which maintain each tube A against the fixed rollers 10 are arranged therebelow and are movable in the vertical plane thereof. Accordingly, the movable guide elements 11 not only yieldingly press the tube upwardly, but at the same time accommodate themselves to any variations in I the size or shape of the tube. As a result of this construction, the wall or walls of each ube constituting the seam ed es are disosed and movable in a fixe horizontal plane relative to which the torch may be ad- '"jiisted, and this enables the operative at all, times to control or adjust the torch 6 "act on the tube. Furthermore,

shown the welding of tapered tubes. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the upper wall of the tube is maintained against and in the plane of the peripheries of the rollers 10 whereas the rollers 11 accommodate themselves to the difference in the vertical diameter of the tube. V

' It will also be seen from the foregoing description that the rollers 11 engage eae tube at opposite sides of the feeding element 5 and thus act to press or move the tube bodily upwardly, without any tendency to so twist or distort it, at the same time permitting the feeding element at all times to it will be noted that the feeding element 5 comprises a chain which is flexible and unsupported below the guiding and positioning elements, and hence admirably lends itself for ooiiperation with the movable guide elements 11, since it will permit the unobstructed operation of the elements 11, at the same time continuously operate to progressively feed the tube forwardly. Each tube engaging member 5 engages the rear end only of a tube. This leaves the entire length or body of the tube unattached from the chain and free to be acted upon by the rollers 11.

The chain 5 is moved continuously so that the heating and welding of the tubes take place progressively. As the rear chain wheel 4 arranged rearwad of the hopper 7, the tu e en aging mem rs move into engagement wfih and automatically feed the lowermost tube forwardly, making it necessary for the operative to simply watch the torch 6.

As already described, the peripheries of 05 the rolls 15 are shaped to engage the opposite ends of the tube and the upper portions of the tubes at opposite sides of the seam throughout their entire lengths. Although the tubes are tapered from end to end, I am enabled, as a result of this construction, to cause uniform pressure and contact between the edges of the seam from end to end of the tube and to thereby insure a proper welding of tapered tubes, as well as cylindrical tubes.

It will be noticed that by my construction I am enabled successively to feed and guide tapered tubes relative to the welding mechanism without the use of shoes or clamping members of any kind.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the character described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest'themselves without dearting from the spirit and scope thereof as efined in the appended claims. My discloeuros and description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense What I claim is: y

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combinatlon with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding tubes relative to said welding.mechanism, a receiver arranged at one side of said feeding means and rearward of said welding mechanism, and means arranged in the path of movement of the tubes for discharging them from said feeding means onto said receiver.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding tubes relative to said weldin mechanism, a receiver arranged at one si e of said feeding means and rearward of said welding mechanism, and a member extending at an angle to the direction of movement of said feeding means and arranged it the path of movement of the tubes for discharging them from said feeding means onto said receiver.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding tubes thereto, a pair of rollers mounted in front of said welding mechanism and codperating to guide the tubes relative thereto, one of said rollers be ing stationarily mounted and the other roller bemg mounted to swing relative to said stationary member, a second pairof rolls arranged at right angles to the first mentioned rolls and in juxtaposition to said welding mechanism, and means for moving said sec ond rolls toward each other.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding device, of means for feeding tubes relative thereto, a pair-of upper and lower rollers mounted in front of said welding device, a pair of rolls arranged at opposite sides of said welding device and provided around their upper edges with flanges to engage the upper portions of the tube wall at opposite sides of the seam therein, and means tending to move the lower roller upwardly to maintain the tube a ainst the upper roller and the flanges of sai rolls.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a Welding device, of means for feeding tubes relative thereto, a pair of upper and lower rollers mounted in front 0 said welding device, a pair of rolls arranged at opposite sides of said welding device and provided around their upper edges with flanges to engage the upper portions of the tube wall at opposite sides of the seam therein, means tendin to move the lower roller upwardly to maintain the tube against'the upper roller and the flanges of said rolls, and means for yieldingly pressing said rolls against the oppbsite sides of the tube.-

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding a tube relative to said said rol ers and simultaneously press the .seam edges of the tubes together.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding tubes relative to said welding mechanism, pairs of rollers arranged in front and rear of said welding mechanism for guiding and supporting the tubes relative thereto, and a pair of swingably mounted devices arranged intermediate of said rollers and cooperating with either pair of rollers to guide the ends of the tubes relative to said welding mechanism.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of means for feeding a tube relative to said welding mechanism, pairs of rollers arran ed in front and rear of said welding mec anism for guiding and supporting the tube relative thereto, a pair of swingably mounted devices arranged intermediate of said rollers and. at opposite sides of the tube and cooperating with either pair of rollers to guide the ends of the tube relative to said welding mechanism, and means yieldingly connecting said devices together to "cause them to exert pressure upon the walls of the tube.

.9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of rollers arran ed in front and rear of said welding \mec anism, cooperating elements movable vertically to maintain a tube against said rollers, and means for feeding the tube relative to said welding mechanism and permitting vertical movement of said tube during feeding thereof.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of rollers arranged in front and rear of said welding mechanism, cooperating elements movable vertically to maintain a tube vice, and means for moving said device rela tive to said welding mechanism.

- 12. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a welding mechanism,

device being movable vertically, means tending to move said lower guide device upwardly whereby the tube is maintained against said upper device, a device on which the tube normally rests, said device being flexible in vertical directions, means for enaging the rear end only of the tube to said evice, and means for moving said device relative to said welding mechanism.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of upper and lower guide devices, the lower device being movable vertically, means tending to move said lower guide device upwardly whereby the tube is maintained against said up er device, a chain on which v the tube norma ly rests, means for engaging the rear end only of the tube to said chain, and means for moving said chain relative to said welding mechanism.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of a pair of upper and .lower rollers, said lower roller being swingable vertically to press the tube against said upper roller and cooperate therewith to guide a tube relative to said welding mechanism, and a chain having a member for engaging the rear end of the tube to feed it relative to said welding mechanism, said lower roller being grooved to permit the chain to move between the tube and roller as it feeds the tube forwardly.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of pairs of upper and lower rollers arranged in front and rear of said welding mechanism, the upper rollers being of the same size and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and having flat peripheries, and the lower rollers having inclined walls engaging the opposite lower portions of a tube and swingable vertically to maintain the tube against said upper rollers, and means for feeding the tube between said up er and lowerrollers relative to said we din mechanism.

16. n apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of pairs of upper and lower rollers arran d in front and rear of said welding mec anism, the upper rollers being of the same-size, and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and having flat peripheries, and the lower rollers having inclined walls engaging the opposite lower portionsof a tube and swingable vertically to maintain the tube against said upper rollers, means for feeding the tube between said upper and lower. rollersrelative to said welding mechanism, and a pair of swingable rolls arranged between said pairs of rollers for pressing the seam edges of the tube together.

17. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a welding mechanism,

of pairs of upper and lower rollers arranged in front and rear of said welding mechanism, the upper rollers being of the same size, and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and having flat peripheries, and the lower rollers having inclined walls engaging the opposite lower portions of a tube and swingable vertically to maintain the tube against said upper rollers, means for feeding the tube between said upper and lower rollers relative to said welding mechanism, a pair of swingable rolls arranged be tween said pairs of rollers for pressing the seam edges of the tube together, and spring connections between said rolls.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a welding mechanism, of pairs of upper and lower rollers arranged in front and rear of said welding mechanism, the upper rollers being of the same size, and arranged in the same horizontal plane, and having flat peripheries, and the lower rollers having inclined walls engaging the opposite lower portions of a tube and swingable vertically to maintain the tube against said upper rollers, means for feeding the tube between said upper and lower rollers relative to said welding mechanism, a pair of swingable rolls arranged between said pairs of rollers for pressing the seam edges of the tube together, spring connections between said rolls, and means for adj usting said spring connections.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mechanism for welding a tapered tube, a pair of upper and lower rollers for guiding the tube relative to said welding mechanism, means for yieldingly pressing said lower roller against the tube, a pair of rolls arranged at opposite sides of said tube, the periphery of each roll being shaped to engage the upper portion of the tube at one side of the seam throughout the length of the tube and also engage the side of the tube throughout its length, and means for moving the rolls toward each other.

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a welding mechanism, a hopper adapted to receive and support a plurality of tubes in stacked relationship, an endless chain, the upper run of which moves below said hopper and said welding mechanism, devices uniformlyspaced along said chain and arranged to automatically engage and feed successively the lowermost tube from said hopper, and a pair of upper and lower guide members between which each tube moves, one of said members being swingable vertically and arranged to guide and control the position of the tube while being moved forward by said chain.

21. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a welding mechanism, a

hopper adapted to receive and support a plurality of tubes in stacked relationship,

. an endless chain, the upper run of which moves below said hopper and said welding mechanism, devices uniformly spaced along said chain and aranged to automatically engage and feed successively the lowermost tube from said hopper, the bottom of said hopper being grooved to receive the chain but permit said devices to project there- 10 above to successively engage the rear ends of the tubes, and a pair of upper and lower guide members between which each tube moves, one of said members being swingable vertically and arranged to guide and control the position of the tube while being 15 moved forward by said chain 

